Über JD
@JudahDavies
Email: [email protected]
von JD am 12.06.2025
in den Kategorien Tactical Theory
mit 0 Kommentaren
Over the last years, one of the main concepts regularly mentioned on this website – but so far rarely explained – is the one about Diagonality. Whether in the theory articles about the blind side, the discussion about relational football or 2014’s classic about The Half-Spaces, diagonality either played an implicit or a very explicit role. Yet, there hasn’t been a real deep dive into this topic – until now. The Fools of Spielverlagerung proudly present: An Article about an angle. Diagonality is here.
Collaborative article by Addis Worku, Martin Rafelt, René Marić, George Jones & Judah Davies
von JD am 12.06.2025
in den Kategorien Tactical Theory
mit 0 Kommentaren
Football is often framed in terms of vertical and horizontal play – attacking “directly” upfield versus spreading the pitch wide. Yet between these axes lies an equally crucial but subtler dimension: diagonality. Diagonal passes, runs, and structures connect the vertical with the horizontal, unlocking angles that pure north-south or east-west approaches cannot. In geometric terms, a player in a central position has roughly eight directions to play the ball (forward, backward, left, right, plus four diagonal angles), whereas near the touchline there are only five (forward, backward, square inside, square outside, and two diagonals) 1 . Those extra diagonal options dramatically expand the attacking vocabulary. Diagonality is not just a hybrid of vertical and horizontal – it is a first-principles concept in its own right, one that influences how space is created, perceived, and exploited at the highest levels of the game.
von JD am 16.06.2022
in den Kategorien Tactical Theory
mit 2 Kommentaren
The term rest-defense, translated from the German “Restverteidigung”, has become more known (and utilized) in recent years. Its equivalent on the other hand, is still rarely talked and even less (consciously) used in coaching, though more frequently by players on an unconscious level.
von JD am 19.08.2020
in den Kategorien Champions League
mit 2 Kommentaren
Thomas Tuchel’s PSG side faced Nagelsmann’s RB Leipzig in the first Champions league semi-final on Tuesday evening. Whilst both sides came through their quarter-finals with late winners, PSG did so fulfilling their favourites tag with Leipzig instead causing an upset.
von JD am 11.08.2020
in den Kategorien Europa League
mit 0 Kommentaren
Two of the Europa League’s strongest remaining sides met as Inter Milan took on Bayer Leverkusen in one of the first quarter-finals on Monday evening. Leverkusen dispatched Rangers comfortably over two legs, whilst Inter beat Getafe in a one-off tie. An intriguing counter lay in waiting.
von JD am 14.07.2020
in den Kategorien Premier League
mit 0 Kommentaren
Solskjaer’s in-form Manchester United hosted a similarly buoyant Southampton side at Old Trafford on Monday evening. With the hosts locked in a battle with Chelsea and Leicester for the final Champions league positions, a win was vital. Whilst their opponents had no such clear targets, their recent performances and results show they do not lack motivation.
von JD am 05.10.2019
in den Kategorien Champions League
mit 2 Kommentaren
Liverpool hosted Salzburg in their gameweek 2 fixture on Wednesday evening. After their 2-0 defeat in Naples, this became a must win. Marsch’s side on the other hand, came into the game on the back of a 6-2 win against Genk. With both sides renowned for their ferocious intensity in all phases of the game, a high-octane game was expected.
von JD am 30.06.2019
in den Kategorien World Cup
mit 0 Kommentaren
Germany faced Sweden in the World Cup quarter final on Saturday evening. Coming into the game, the two-time champions had won every game without conceding despite their underlying numbers telling a different story.Sweden’s results were similarly impressive, failing to win just once, in a match against favourites USA.
von JD am 12.04.2019
in den Kategorien Champions League
mit 0 Kommentaren
Solskjaer’s United side hosted the perennial Spanish champions in the first leg of the Champions league quarter final on Wednesday. For United, the incredible run of results which culminated in a remarkable comeback in the previous round against PSG had been replaced by, 3 defeats in the last 4 games. Their opponents meanwhile, came into the clash on the back of 9 wins in their last 10.
von JD am 05.03.2019
in den Kategorien Premier League
mit 0 Kommentaren
Arsenal and Tottenham have entered the last few seasons with the same objective of claiming a top four position to ensure Champions League football. Along with the geographical rivalry, competing for similar positions has put increased importance on the direct clashes, and this piece will examine the details of both league clashes.
